Doc Martin's Blog

For the last week, Lynda and I have been working almost day and night, finishing some end of the year bookkeeping, preparing and packing for Ethiopia and building some props for my illustrated sermons. The crusade is less than a week away.

I preached at Brazos Valley Family Worship Center in Bryan, Texas again this morning. When we have an open Sunday, we often go to Brazos Valley. Our friend, Pastor Joel Withem has been battling leukemia for over a year. He is a valiant fighter. Please continue to pray for Brother Joel for a complete healing.

January 11, 2019 - Acts 6:4

Like the previous four years, we started the year at the Acts 6:4 Conference in Texarkana, TX. Every year this great conference grows in attendance and power. It was wonderful being in Texarkana with Lynda and so many of our friends.

In January 2012, James Dodd and I attended the Prayer and Bible Conference. I was nearly 60 and I told James we were the youngest two guys there. It was clear the conference was dying or maybe already dead and just not buried. Later that year they announced the name would be changed, the meeting would move to SAGU and it would be held in the Spring. For all practical purposes the season for this once powerful Pentecostal meeting had ended.

At the same time Conservatively Spe aking was a pretty small Facebook group that Andy Harris had started and only a handful of us served as moderators.

In October 2012, I wrote Andy and told him the changes in the P&BC opened the door for conservatives to host a winter conference. I suggested Shreveport, he suggested Houston, but we both thought it would be a great idea. That conversation was the genesis of Acts 6:4.

Months later, my late wife was diagnosed with brain cancer and I resigned from CS to devote my time to caring for her. Because of her illness, I was unable to attend the first conference but have not missed one since. I am so pleased with what Acts 6:4 has become. Jason Stidham has done an incredible job of shaping and leading the conference. This year's meeting has been absolutely awesome. There is not another meeting in the United States that can compare in Pentecostal fervor. I am happy to have sown a small seed that took root and grew into such a powerful meeting.